Climate Change – Recent experience
Our recent climate change experience includes:
Xstrata Newlands case
Successfully represented Xstrata in this high profile litigation before the Queensland Land and Resources Tribunal. Greenhouse gas emissions from the mine and climate change were the central issues in this case.
Monash Energy Project
Advising generally on the proposed commercialisation of coal-to-gas-to-liquid technology to produce low-emission diesel fuel and electricity from brown coal. Our role has included advising on legal issues and proposed regulatory arrangements relating to carbon capture and storage (geosequestration) in offshore geological structures.
Isaac Plains Coal Mine
Acted for the Isaac Plains Coal Mine, successfully resisting an objection by a conservation group to a coal mine on the basis of greenhouse gas emissions. This groundbreaking case considered the scope of the Federal Environment Minister’s decision-making authority.
ZeroGen Power Station
Advised Stanwell Corporation on the ZeroGen integrated gasification and open cycle power station, to be a world first demonstration-scale power station to generate low emission base-load electricity.
Carbon Sequestration
Advising on the acquisition of forestry rights to offset carbon dioxide emissions and procuring greenhouse abatement certificates under the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.
Gorgon Project
Advised on the project proposal for development of the Greater Gorgon gas fields, gas processing and shipping facilities. The project includes greenhouse gas management via carbon capture and storage into deep formations beneath Barrow Island.
China Landfill Gas Project
Advised on land fill gas projects in the People’s Republic of China. Our roles include advising Brambles Industries Limited on management of land fill sites, management and conversion of the gas emissions to electricity.
Australian Plantation Timber
Advised on the acquisition of the timber plantation land bank and associated carbon credit arrangements.
NSW Forestry Rights
Advised Citibank and a number of superannuation funds on investment in forestry rights to accumulate carbon credits.
Wind Farm Projects
Our lawyers have extensive experience advising on wind farm projects in NSW, SA, Victoria and WA. Acting for sponsors and financiers, our roles have involved advising on planning and development approvals, the environmental assessment process, land tenure issues, construction issues, joint venture arrangements and investment structuring and taxation issues.
Risk Assessments
Advised clients on the legal risks arising from climate change and the steps they can take to reduce such risks or mitigate their consequences.
Victorian Renewable Energy Target Scheme
Advising the Victorian Essential Services Commission on the initial rules and guidelines for the implementation of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme, a market-based scheme to maintain demand for investment in renewable energy in Victoria.
